Coconut Oil Health Benefits – Is Coconut Right For You?

The thermogenic characteristics of coconut oil can assist you in losing weight by boosting your metabolism and targeting belly fat.

While it may seem counterproductive to add fat to your daily diet when you’re working on dropping pounds; coconut oil isn’t just any ordinary fat. Similar to butter or olive oil, coconut oil packs 9 calories a gram, which can add up fast. Several of its benefits come from its unique molecular structure. This exclusive structure permits the body to process the oil in a different manner than other fats.

A medium-chain triglyceride acid, coconut oil is delivered directly to the liver from the digestive system. From there, the body can process coconut oil for its current energy demands or turn it into ketone bodies. Complex processes and changes in the body prepare these ketone bodies for use in delivering fuel for the brain, muscles and other energy needs.

Ketones have been shown to positively affect hormones and nutrients that control appetite after weight-loss is reached through ketogenic diets. Ketogenic diets remove nearly all carbohydrates from the diet. The levels of these hormones have the ability to make all the difference in sustaining weight-loss.

Because of their improved bio-availability factor, medium-chain triglycerides can be taken to improve the absorption rate of oral medications in individuals being treated for disorders such as steatorrhea, liver disease, celiac disease, short bowel syndrome, and diarrhea.

Coconut Oil Benefits

Once this switch has been turned on, an individual’s body can burn more stored fat as fuel instead of depending on carbohydrates for energy.

When carbohydrates become the main source of fuel, stored fat continues to remain stored and results in those extra pounds.
If you consume a similar amount of a long-chain fatty acid such as olive oil, it’s more likely to increase your body fat percentages.

Coconut Oil Clinical Trials

Exciting metabolic functions is a key piece of how coconut oil helps in attaining and maintaining normal body weight.

Metabolic illnesses are on the rise; symptoms include excess belly fat, elevated cholesterol levels, and high blood sugar levels. Simply put, the more of these symptoms that are present, the higher the level of your vulnerability to serious health problems, such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes.

The University of Geneva conducted a small European study that measured participants’ energy expenditure over a 24-hour period when taking medium-chain fatty acids 3 times per day at 10 grams per meal. The total amount taken was 30 grams which is approximately 2 tablespoons.

The study subjects experienced on average a 5% increase in energy expenditure in addition to a higher level of metabolism, resulting in an average burn of 120 more calories per day.

Consuming coconut oil in the morning can also reduce hunger levels at lunchtime. Another small study was conducted including 14 men who were isolated from clocks or any other time keeping devices or ques. The participants consumed coconut oil in the morning at breakfast and were directed to request their next meal when they began to feel hungry.

Those participants who consumed the largest quantities of medium-chain fatty acids in the morning, on average, waited longer before requesting their next meal. When they received their meal, the group consistently consumed less calories than the group of men who consumed smaller amounts of medium-chain fatty acids.

A similar study consisting of 40 obese women between the ages of 20 and 40 were divided into two groups. One group supplemented with one ounce of coconut oil per day and the other group was given an equal amount of soybean oil. The women consumed a restricted-calorie diet and were directed to walk 50 minutes a day.

The study lasted four weeks. Both the control group and the test group lost an average of 2 pounds; the big difference in the findings of the two groups was waist circumference. The group that used coconut oil reduced belly fat, while the group that used soybean had larger waist measurements at the end of the study than when they started.

In a separate study consisting of 17 women over 27 days, the results showed the addition of medium-chain fatty acids to their diet significantly increased energy expenditure. Conclusions highlighted the potential of this plan as a long-term deterrent to weight gain, as opposed to a quick weight-loss strategy.

A group of 30 obese men supplemented their diet with 30 grams of coconut oil per day for a month. No additional changes were directed to their diet or exercise programs. At the end of the study the group’s waist measurements decreased by an average of approximately an inch.

Part of the Plan

Using coconut oil as a weight-loss supplement is not that dramatic. However, using it in conjunction with a weight-loss diet is the best thing for making significant positive changes in an individual’s overall health.

The most promising benefits of supplementing your diet with coconut oil is in the way it focuses on visceral fat stored in the abdominal region. Carrying extra pounds of fat around the waist raises the risk of developing a plethora of chronic diseases, including but limited to diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

An individual will find large number of coconut oils on the shelf now that the oil’s healthful qualities are more widely recognized. These modern oils are far superior to the same highly processed coconut oils that were used in snack foods years ago. The hydrogenated varieties of days gone by warranted the bad rap they received. As a result, look for organic virgin coconut oil, which is available in health food stores, supermarkets and various online sources.

If you decide that coconut oil fits into your long-term weight loss goals, purchasing in bulk will reduce the price, in addition, coconut oil has a relatively long shelf life of between 18 to 24 months without refrigeration.

For individuals who want or need to lose weight, just simply supplementing your diet with coconut oil isn’t likely to stimulate noteworthy weight-loss and might even result in weight gain if trade-offs are not made in overall fat intake.

If you haven’t made the decision to embark on a weight-loss program, begin by substituting coconut oil for olive oil in your normal recipes. Try using coconut oil for baking and cooking or combine it with butter to move daily fat intake from long-chain fatty acids to medium-chain fatty acids.

This is an ideal way to start initiating the metabolic qualities of a healthful medium-chain fatty acid without increasing the amount of fat you eat.

After you’ve picked a diet plan you believe will be the best fit for you in achieving your weight loss goals, coconut oil could be an outstanding way to support your efforts. In addition, coconut oil will help you keep the weight off long-term through appetite suppression and increased energy expenditure.

Authors

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